New York Governor’s Race Tightens, With Blakeman Swaying Independent Voters, as Debate Looms on the Horizon

Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman is keeping the pressure on Governor Kathy Hochul as the race to run the Empire State enters its end stage, new poll results show, with just six weeks remaining to Election Day.Mr. Blakeman has won over the independent voters of New York and galvanized Empire State Republicans as he and Governor Kathy Hochul prepare to face off on the debate stage on October 13.Among likely voters unaffiliated with either major party, 44 percent said they planned to vote for Mr. Blakeman, compared to 39 percent who said they preferred Ms. Hochul, according to Siena Poll results released early Wednesday. Mr. Blakeman also has more favorable ratings among his own party, with 88 percent of Republicans choosing him, compared to 81 percent of Democrats backing Ms. Hochul. Siena’s latest numbers also reaffirmed Ms. Hochul’s narrowed overall lead among likely voters, identifying the same single-digit advantage a McLoughlin & Associates poll accorded the incumbent earlier this month. The governor remains locked at 50 percent, a threshold she has not been able to pass in polling since June. Mr Blakeman was the candidate of choice for 41 percent of respondents.“He now trails by single digits — well, nine points — in a state where Democrats outnumber Republicans by more than two-to-one,” Siena pollster Steven Greenberg said in a statement. “At this time four years ago, Hochul led Lee Zeldin [by] 17 points, 54-37 percent, before going on to win by six points.”The narrow gap between them makes the sole debate of this campaign a make-or-break moment for both candidates. The candidates will meet in Manhattan on October 13 at 7 p.m. Eastern time for a three-hour debate that will broadcast on NY1 Spectrum News as well as YouTube, the network confirmed Tuesday.Mr. Blakeman has campaigned on affordability issues including energy prices that have risen precipitously in recent years. At $29.90 per kilowatt hour, electricity in New York now costs 70 percent more than the national average, according to the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority. Public safety and quality of life concerns have also been central pillars of Mr. Blakeman’s platform. Under his leadership, Long Island’s Nassau County was named the safest county in America last year.Ms. Hochul has painted herself as a leader who will continue to oppose President Trump on issues including immigration. In New York’s left-leaning climate, President Trump’s endorsement may have hurt Mr. Blakeman’s campaign, according to 51 percent of the Siena Poll respondents. Only 30 percent saw it as a positive step for the Republican. The likely voters viewed New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s support of Ms. Hochul as more helpful, with 50 percent calling it positive.The Siena poll also assessed New Yorkers’ views on data centers, finding that 63 percent don’t want new data centers in their area after a temporary moratorium Ms. Hochul imposed on new facilities expires next year.“Three-quarters of Democrats and nearly two-thirds of independents are opposed, while Republicans are closely divided, narrowly supporting data centers in their area, 43-41 percent,” Mr Greenberg said. “At least 59 percent of voters from every region of the state oppose new data centers near them.”Ahead of the gubernatorial debate, state Attorney General Letitia James will face her Republican challenger Saritha Komatireddy on October 8. The latest Siena Poll results showed Ms. James lead over Ms. Komatireddy shrinking from 18 points to 13, though “more than two-thirds of likely voters continue to have either never heard of Komatireddy or don’t know enough to have an opinion.”Candidates for state comptroller will also debate on October 1.

New York Governor’s Race Tightens, With Blakeman Swaying Independent Voters, as Debate Looms on the Horizon

New York Governor’s Race Tightens, With Blakeman Swaying Independent Voters, as Debate Looms on the Horizon

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